Time signaling system



Feb. 16,1937. -J MY AL 2,070,878

TIME SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheetl CL OCK firms: A MIA/LITE) Inuen ur's Jul-m I. Bellamy Rachel-.1 Er Richardsun Feb. 16, 1937. J. BELLAMY ET AL TIME SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UIH FME

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u. www 5 R i 6Q g EN g 5mm Patented Feb. 16, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,070,878 TIME SIGNALING SYSTEM Delaware Application August 28,

35 Claims.

A further object is the provision of a trunk circuit adapted to connect automatic telephone subscribers to the time signaling device. This enables any subscriber, by merely operating his calling dial to transmit the proper number, to establish a connection with the time signaling device and thus ascertain the time of day. The number of simultaneous connections to the time signaling device is governed by the number of time trunk circuits provided.

One of the features of the invention is the arrangement for providing a tick-tone signal to indicate to the subscriber that a connection is established to the time signaling device.

Another feature is the arrangement for connecting the subscriber to the time signaling conductors after a time trunk relay group is seized. By this arrangement, the subscriber is disconnected from the tick-tone signaling conductors and connected to the time signaling conductors when the time signaling device is in position to transmit a complete time signal. any subscriber from being connected to the time signaling conductors when the time signaling device is in the process of transmitting a time signal.

A further feature is the arrangement for disconnecting the subscriberfrom the time signaling conductors and connecting him to the busy signaling conductors after he has received the same complete time signal twice. However, if the time is changed while he is listening to the first time signal, he will receive the complete time signal of the old time and two complete additional signals 0:. the new time before he is disconnected irom the signaling conductors and connected to the busy signaling conductors.

A still further feature is the arrangement for providing a special tone signal to indicate to the subscriber that the time has changed and that the next signal will be of the new time.

The foregoing objects and featur'es together with others not specifically mentioned at this time will be further discussed in connection with the detailed description of the operation of the various circuits.

The accompanying drawings comprising Figs.

This prevents 1930, Serial No. 478,324

1 to 3, inclusive, show by means of the usual circuit diagrams a sufllclent amount of equipment in a system embodying the invention to permit the invention to be readily described and understood.

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown a time trunk circuit TTC which is accessible to subscribers in an automatic telephone system. Conductors 5, 8, and 1 are connected to bank contacts, such as contacts 2, 3, and 4, of a selector in the exchange. The selectors used can be any of the standard type selectors used in regular practice, such as the selector shown in Fig. 63 and described on pages 62 to 65, inclusive, of Smith and Campbell's "Automatic Telephony", second edition, published in 1921 by McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York.

Conductors 26 to 84, inclusive, are common to a plurality of time trunk circuits TTC. The equipment shown to the right of the conductors 26 to 34, inclusive, together with the equipment shown in Fig. 2, constitute the time signaling device.

The contacts 35 are momentarily closedonce every minute by a master clock and are arranged tocontrol the operation of the registers HR, TR, and UR shown in Fig. 2, as will be described hereinafter.

The buzzers Bi to B4, inclusive, shown above andto the right of the master clock, are each tuned to a different predetermined audible pitch or frequency. The buzzer designated Bi is arranged to transmit intermittent pulses to the subscriber of a low, mellow tone indicative of the hour. The buzzer designated B2 transmits intermittent pulses of a slightly higher pitch or frequency indicative of the tens of minutes, and the buzzer designated B3 transmits intermittent pulses slightly higher in pitch or frequency than buzzer B2, indicative of the units of minutes. By this arrangement the subscriber receives three distinct intermittent tone signals indicative of the hour, tens and units of minutes, respectively. The buzzer designated B4 transmits a special short pulse tone signal of a very high audible pitch or frequency everyminute to indicate to the subscriber that the time has changed and that the next time signal to be transmitted by buzzers Bi--B3 will be a new signal corresponding to the changed time.

The relays designated 0 and III are continuously operating and act as an interrupter for the counting relays Mil-223 shown in Fig. 2, and for buzzers Bi-B3 shown in Fig. 1.

The relays designated 06 and I03 are two step sequence relays. They are arranged to prepare operating circuits over the various registers, HR, TR, and UR, shown in Fig. 2, in proper sequence, and are also arranged to prepare the circuits for the various buzzers Bl to B3, inclusive, in sequence with the circuits of the various registers.

Relay i0! is a two-step relay with a weighted spring combination, similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,641,256, granted to John Erickson September 6, 1927, in addition to the regular spring combination. Relay I01 energizes in its second step, after a complete time signal has been transmitted, and causes the weighted spring to vibrate. The vibrating contact does not close a circuit until it comes to rest and in this way provides an additional delay between the transmission of each complete time signal.

Fig. 2 shows three registers, the hours register HR, the tens of minutes register TR, and the units of minutes register UR. The hours register HR is a 25-point rotary switch, similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,693,027, granted to John Erickson November 27, 1928. The tens and units of minutes registers TR and UR, respectively, are standard rotary mechanisms of the 11-point type and are similar in construction to the abovementioned 25-point rotary switch. The rotary switches are of the step-by-step type in which the wipers move in a forward direction only, and in which the wipers are advanced when the stepping magnet retracts its I armature rather than when the stepping magnet attracts its armature. The units of minutes register UR advances its wipers one step each minute, the tens of minutes register TR advances its wipers one step for every ten steps of the wipers of the units of minutes register UR, and the hours register HR advances its wipers one step for every six steps of the wipers of the tens of minutes register TR; In this way the exact time of day is always registered by the time signaling device.

Relays 2l2 to 223 are counting relays wherein the first relay of a pair is energized by a pulse from the contacts of the interrupter relay H0 and the second relay of the pair is energized and locked up in series with the first when the potential for operating the first relay is removed. When all the counting relays are locked up the circuit is transferred at relay 223 and the counting relays are deenergized in the same order in which they were energized. Each of the pairs of counting relays close testing circuits for the stop relay H2 when one or the other of the pair is energized and the other deenergized. If a circuit is closed to the stop relay all the energized counting relays are deenergized.

Relays 2m and 2 are a pair of pick-up relays, similar to the regular counting relays; Relay 2) controls the operating circuit for the buzzers Bl to B3, inclusive, and relay 2 controls the pick-up circuit for connecting the time trunk circuit TTC to the time signaling device.

Fig. 3 illustrates a simplified time trunk circuit that provides a holding bridge for the selector having access to the time signaling device. This time trunk circuit, when used in place of the time trunk circuit T'IC, permits the subscriber to listen to the time signalsas long as he desires. With this circuit the subscriber is immediately connected to the time signaling conductors as soon as it is seized by the selector and it does not release until the subscriber hangs up.

In the drawings the slow-acting relays are denoted by shading the lower portion of their cores, or by making the upper portion of their cores solid black, depending upon whether the relay is merely slow to release or is also slow to operate. A shaded portion on the lower end of the core indicates that the relay is slow to release after its energizing circuit is opened, but is not appreciably slow to operate when an energizing circuit is closed. A solid black portion on the upper end of the core indicates that the relay is slightly slow to operate when an energizing circuit is closed in addition to being slow to release after its energizing circuit is opened.

The invention having been described in general, a detailed description of the operation of the apparatus shown will follow.

Automatic telephone subscriber calling the time signaling device It can be assumed that the time signaling device is in the position shown on the drawings and that an automatic telephone subscriber de-' sires to ascertain the time of day.

' When the subscriber removes his receiver he is automatically connected, in the usual manner, to a selector. By dialing the number assigned to the time signaling device, the wipers of the selector are stepped up to the desired level and are automatically rotated across the bank associating its wipers with bank contacts 2, 3, and 4 of the selector, assuming that the trunk connected to these contacts is idle.

When the selector associates its wipers with contacts 2, 3, and 4, shown to the left of the time trunk circuit 'I'I'C in Fig. 1, a circuit is immediately closed from ground, lower winding of line relay Ill, positive line conductor I, bank contact 4 and positive line wiper of the selector, subscriber's loop, negative line wiper and bank contact 2 of the selector, negative line conductor 5, upper winding of line relay ill, to battery. Line relay lli, upon energizing, at armature 4i connects ground to the release trunk conductor 6, for holding the selector and preceding switches operated. Line relay I0, upon operating, also closes a circuit for pick-up relay I I from battery,

winding of relay Ii, armature 39 and its front contact, armature i 8 and its resting contact, resting contact controlled by armature 45, pickup conductor 32, armatures H5 and H6 and their respective resting contacts, conductor l3l, armature 224, to ground. Upon energizing, pickup relay l l closes a locking circuit for itself from ground at armature 45 and its front contact and at the resting contact controlled by armature 45 disconnects its original energizing circuit over the pick-up conductor 32. At armatures 43 and 46 and their front contacts, pick-up relay i I connects the subscriber's line, over conductors 5 and I and condensers I2 and I3, to the time-signaling conductors 28 and 29 and at armature 4,4 and its front contact prepares a circuit for subsequently disconnecting the subscriber from the time signaling conductors, as will be hereinafter described. g

The time trunk circuit is now in position to permit the time signals transmitted over conductors 28 and 29 to be received by the subscriber.

Transmission of time signal It has been mentioned before that the equipment is inthe position shown on the drawings when it is seized by the subscriber. The position of the registera sho contacts of the banks, the tens of minutes regin Fig. 2, should be ister TR has'itswipers 204-205 resting on the third set of contacts of its banks, and the units of minutes register UR has its wipers cor-20's resting on the eighth set of contacts of its banks. It canbe seen, by the position of the wipers, that the time to be transmitted by the time signaling device is 1:38 o'clock. W

The interrupter relays H and II I, shown in Fig. 1, are self interrupting and are continuously operating as will now be described.

Relays H0 and III are shown connected in series, but relay I I I is short circuitedfrom'ground at armature III and its resting contact. Relay IIO energizes from ground atwarmature, Ill and its resting contact and removes the shortecircuit from relay III', energizing it in series with relay IIO. Relay I II, upon energizing, short circuits 1 relay H0 at armature I and its front contact and relay M0 deenergizes. Upon deenergizing relay IIO short circuits relay III at armature Ill and its resting contact. Relay I I.I- deenergizes and removes the short circuit from relay H0 at armature I20 and its front contact, permitting relay IIO to pull up again; It should be noted that the operation of the two relaysis comparatively slow because both relays are slow to energize and also slow to release after \the energizing circuit is opened. I

The first time interrupter relay H0 operates a circuit is closed at armature H8 and its front contact for pickup relay 2I0, shown in Fig. 2,

from ground, armature 225 and its resting contact, conductor I30, armature H8 .and its.front 'contact, armature I33 and its resting contact,

conductor I29, armatures 226-232 and their respective resting contactsgwinding of pick-up relay 2I0, to battery. Upon energizing, pick-up relay 2I0 prepares a circuit at armature 233 and itsfront contact for relay 2| I, and at armature 240 and its front contact it prepares a circuit, for the tuned buzzer BI.

Interrupter relay IIO, upon deenergizing as has been hereinbefore described, closes a circuit at armature I I9 and its resting contact for buzzer BI from ground, armature 240 and its front contact, conductor I32, armaturesv IIO, I34, and I35.and their respective resting contacts, interrupter contacts and winding of buzzer BI, to battery. Buzzer BI vibrates and an alternating current of a particular frequency flows through its associated condenser, conductor 36, primary winding of transformer 23, to ground. An alternating current of the same frequency flows in the secondary winding of transformer 23 and over the time signaling 'conductors"28,- and 29, armatures 43 and 4B and their front contacts," condensers I2 and I3 and conductors 5 and 3. to the subscriber's telephone.

Upon deenergizing, interrupter relay IIO also opens the energizing circuit for pick-up relay 2 I 0, at armature I I8 and its front contact. However, pick-up relay 2I0 locks up in series with relay 2I I, as soon as its original energizing circuit is opened from battery-winding of pick-up relay 2I0, armature 233 and its front contact, winding of relay 2, conductor I20, armature I33 andits resting contact, to ground. Relay2II energizes and at armature 224 and its resting contact opens the pick-up circuit, preventing any other time trunk circuits similar to time trunk circuit TIC from connecting a subscriber to the time contact, relay 2I signaling condi ors 28 and 23'at this time. The

pick-up circuit is'opened at approximately the same time the tone signal is being transmitted over conductors '28 and. and prevents any subscriber from being connected to the time signaling conductors while a time signalis in the process of being transmitted. At, arm ature m and its front relay 2I2.

Interrupter relay I I0, upon energizing a second time, opens the circuit at armature II3 and its resting contact for buzzer, BI and itstops vibrat- Relay IIO also closes a circuit again at armature II 3 and its fr'ont'contact, from ground, armature 225 and its resting contact, conductor I30, armature- I I8 and its irontcontact, armature I33 and its resting contact, conductor I23, arma tures 223-23I and their respective resting contactsiarmature 2323and its front contact, winding of counting relay 2 I2, to battery; Upon energiz- 'in'g, countingjrelay 2 I2 prepares a locking circuit for itself, at armature .234 and its front contact inseries with counting relay 2 I3 and at armature 24I and-its. front contact closes a circuit from ground, armatures I39 and I40 and their resting contacts, conductor I24, wiper 202' and the first bank contact of the hours register HR, armature 24I and its front contact, armature 253 and its resting contact, conductor "I21, winding of the slow-acting stop relayI I2 to battery. Stop relay II2 subsequently energizes and at, armature I38 and its front contact closes a locking circuit for t prepares a circuit for counting I, I

itself from ground, armatures I31 and I33 and their respective frontcontacts, winding of stop relay \I I2, to battery. At armature I36 and its back contact, stop relay I I2 removes the holding ground from conductor I28, releasing relays II3, 2I0 and 2I I, and at armature I33 and its resting contact opens the energizingcircuit for counting relay 2I2. At armature IIS and its resting con- .tact, stop relay I I2 also opens the pick-up circuit over conductor 32. Relay 2'I0, upon deenergizing, opens the circuit for the buzzers over conductor I32, at armature 240'and its front contact. Relay 2I I, upon restoring to normal, closes a point in the pick-up circuit over conductor 32- at armature 224 and its resting contact, The pick-up circuit is now held open at armature IIS and its resting contact. Relay 2I2, upon deenergizing, opens the original energizing circuit for stop relay H2 at armature 24I and its front contact.- Upon deenergizing, relay II3 opens the locking cireuit'for stop relay I-I2 at'armature I31 and its front contact, and at armature HI and its front contact it removes the short circuit from the lower winding of sequence relay I05. Sequence relay I05 now locks itself in its second step from ground, resting contacts controlled by armature I44, contact A of sequence relay'I05, both windings of relay I05 in series, to battery. -At armature I40 -and its front. contact, sequence relay I05 transfers the marking ground circuit over conductor I24 and wiper 202 of the hour register HR to conductor I23 and wiper 205 ,of the tens of minutes register TR. At armature I35 and its front contact, sequence relay I05 transfers the circuit from the hours buzzer BI to the tens of minutes buzzer B2 and at armature H5 and its resting contact it opens another point in the pickup circuit over conductor 32. .Also relay I05 pre-' pares a circuit for the upper winding of sequence relay I06 at armature I43 and its front contact. Relays II2 and II3 are slow to energize and slow to release in order to provide a slight delay between the transmission of the hourandtens of up circuit over conductor 32, which is now opened at armature I I5 only. At armature I38 and its resting contact, relay H2 closes an energizing circuit for relay H3. Relay H3, upon energizing,

prepares a locking circuit for relay H2, at armature I31 and its resting contact and at armature Ill and its front contact it closes a circuit from ground, armature MI and its front contact, armature I42 and its resting contact, armature M3 and its front contact, upper winding of sequence relay I06, to battery. Sequence relay I05 energizes in its-first step, closing contacts A only, and it prepares a locking circuit for itself from ground at the resting contacts controlled by armature Iti.

, It is obvious that the lower winding of the twostep sequence relay I66 is short-circuited by its initial energizing circuit and it cannot operate to its second step until the short circuit is removed. At armature I33 and its resting contact, stop relay H2 again closes the circuit controlled by interrupter-relay III] at armature IE8 and its front contact.

The subscriber has now received the first tone signal over conductors 2B and as from buzzer BI, which is the h-ours signal, as has been hereinbefore described.

After stop relay I i2 deenergizes, the next time relay I I energizes a circuit is immediately closed again to pick-up relay 2m, at armature H8 and its front contact over the previously traced circult. Relay 2) operates as before, preparing a locking circuit for itself in series with relay 2i I, and at armature 240 prepares a circuit for tens of minutesbuzzer B2.

Interrupter" relay lit subsequently deenergizes and at armature I I9 and its resting contact closes a circuit from ground, armature 220 and its front contact, conductor I32, armatures H9 and I32 and their respective resting contacts, armature I35 and front contact, interrupter contacts of buzzer B2; winding of the tens of minutes buzzer B2, to battery. Buzzer B2 transmits alternating current of a. particular frequency over the primary and secondary windings of the transformer 23, conductors 28 and 29, signaling the subscriber in the same manner as has been described in connection with the hours buzzer BI.

Upon deenergizing, interrupter relay II 0 also onens the energizing circuit for pick-up relay 2m at'armature H8 and its. front contact. Pick-up relay 2 I0 locks up in series with relay 2i I, as soon as its original energizing circuit is opened, over the circuitpreviously traced for the above relays. Upon energizing, relay 2 opens a point in the pick-up circuit at armature 22A and its resting contact without efiect at this time, and prepares a. circuit for relay 2I2 at armature 232 and its front contact. The pick-up circuit, over conductor 32, is now held open, at armature II and its resting contact, until the complete time signal is transmitted.

'Interrupter relay III) subsequently energizes again and at armature I I9 and its resting contact terminates the first tens of minutes signal to the subscriber. At armature H8 and its front contact it closes a circuit for counting relay 2I2 as before. Upon energizing, counting relay 2I2 prepares a locking circuit for itself at armature 234 and its front contact. in series with counting relay H3, and at armature 2M and its front contact it closes. a test circuit from stop relay II2 to the first bank contact of the registers. The absence of ground on the first bank contact of the register prevents the stop relay H2 from energizing at this time.

Interrupter relay E II), upon deenergizing again, closes the circuit .for the tens of minutes buzzer B2 9. second time, at armature H9 and its resting contactstarting the transmission of the second signal from buzzer B2 to the subscriber. armature I I 8 and its front contact, interrupter relay III) opens the original energizing circuit for counting relay 2I2 and at the same time it removes the short circuit from the winding of counting relay 2I3. Counting relays 2I2 and 2H lock up in series from battery, winding of relay 2 I2, armature 236 and its front contact, winding of relay 2I3, conductor I28, armature Itfi'and its resting contact, to ground. Counting relay 2ft. upon energizing, opens the test circuit for the first bank contact of the registers at armature 253 and its resting contact, and at armature 2M and its front contact it prepares a circuit for counting relay 2M. I

Interrupter relay H0 subsequently energizes again, and at armature H9 and its resting contact it opens the circuit for buzzer B2, terminating the second signalfrom buzzer B2 to the subscriber. At armature lit and its resting contact interrupter relay IIB closes a circuit for counting relay 2M from ground, armature 226 and its resting contact, conductor I30, armature H8 and its front contact, armatures 226 to 230, inclusive, and their respective resting contact, armature HI and its front contact, winding of counting relay 2%, to battery. Counting relay 2%, upon energizing, closes a testing circuit at armature 242 and its front contact from stop relay H2 to the second bank contact of the registers. Theabsence of ground on the second bank contact prevents stop relay H2 from energizing at this time. At armature 235 and its front contact counting relay 2M prepares a locking circuit for itself in series with counting relay 2I5. Counting relay 2I5 is short-circuited for the time being by the initial energizing circuit for counting relay Zlfi.

interrupter relay H0, upon deenergizing again, closes the circuit for the tens of minutes buzzer B2 a third time, at armature H9 and its resting contact starting the transmission of the third signal from buzzer B2 to the subscriber. At armature II8 and its front contact interrupter relay IIO removes the short circuit from around the winding of counting relay 2I5 and it opens the originalenergizing circuit for counting relay 2 I4. Counting relay 2 It and relay 2 l5 lock up in series, from ground, winding of relay 2M, armature 235 and its front contact, winding of relay 2I5, conductor I28, armature I36 and its resting contact to ground. Relays 2 I0-2l5 are all locked to ground at armature I36 of stop relay H2. Relay 2i5, upon energizing. opens the testing circuit for stop relay I I2 at armature 256 and its resting contact and at armature 230 and its front contact it prepares a circuit for counting relay 2 I6.

Interrupter relay III) energizes as before and at armature I I9 and its resting contact opens the circuit of the tens of minutes buzzer B2, terminating the third signal to the subscriber.

At armature H8 and its front contact interrupter relay H0 again closes a circuit to the counting relays over conductor I29, this time energizing counting relay! 2I6. At armature 243 and its front contact relay 2I6 closesa testing circuit from the slow-acting stop relay II2 to 5 the third bank contactof the registers. This time a circuit is completed to stop relay I I2 from ground, armature I39 and its resting contact, armature I40 and its front contact, conductor I23, wiper 205 and the third bank contact of the tens of minutes register TR, armature 243 and its front contact, armature 265 and its gresting contact, conductor I2I,-winding of stop relay II2, to battery. Stop relayl I2 energizes and at armature I36 and its front contact it closes an obvious locking circuit for itself. At armature I36 :and its resting contact stop relay-H2 removes the locking ground for relays 2I0 to- 2I5, inclusive, and at armature I33 it opens the circuit for counting relay 2I6. Relays 2 I to 2I6, inclusive, restore to normal. Pick-up relay 2I0, upon deenergizing,

opens the circuit for buzzer B2 at armature 240 S and its front contact, and relay 2I I, upon deenergizing, closes a point in'the' pick-up circuit. The pick-up circuit is now held open at armatures ,I I 5 and H6 and their respective resting contacts. Counting relay 2I6, upon deenergizing, opens the original energizing circuit for stop relay H2 at armature 243 and its front contact. Theremoval of ground from conductor I28, at armature I36 and its resting contact, opens the circuit for the normally energized relay H9 and it deenergizes. At armature I H and its front contact, relay II3 removes the short circuit from the lower winding sequence relay I06. Sequence relay I06 now looks itself in its second step; from ground, resting contacts controlled by armature I, contact A of relay I06, both windings of relay I06 in series, to battery. At. armature I39 and its front contact, sequence relay I06 transfers the marking ground from conductor I23, connected to wiper 205 of the tens of minutes register TR, to conductor I22, connected to wiper 208 of the units of minutes register UR. At armature I34 and its front contact the signaling circuit is transferred from the tens of minutes buzzer B2 to the units of minutes buzzer B3. Relay I06 prepares a circuit at armature I43 and its front contact for the upper wind- -ing of sequence relay I01.

Relay H3, upon deenergizing, also opens the locking circuit for stop relay I I2. Relays I I2 and H3 are slow to operate and slow to release, providing the necessary delay between the transmission of each group of signals. Relay 2 subsequently deenergizes again and closes the pickup circuit at armature IIG without effect at this time. At armature I36 and its resting contact relay I I-2 restores the holding ground to conductor I36, causing relay- II3 to energize again. At armature I31 and its front contact, relay II3 prepares the locking circuit for stop relay H2," arid at armature MI and its front contact it closes a circuit from ground, armatures Ill and I42 and their respective front contacts, upper winding of sequence relayj 'l0'l, to battery. Sequence relay I01 energizes in its first step, closing contact A only, and it prepares a locking circuit for itself from ground at the resting contact controlled by armature I 44. The lower winding. of the sequence relay I01 is' short circuited by the "initial energizing circuit for the upper winding,

preventing it from operating in its second step.-

At armature I33 and its resting contact, stop relay I I2 again closes the interrupter circuit con- 75 I trolled by armature H9 and its front contact,

.nal will be. transmitted to the-subscriber.

minutes buzzer B3.

The subscriber has now heard one signal from B3, and at armature 233 and its front contact it prepares a locking circuit for itself in series with relay 2| I Interrupter relay I I0 subsequently deenergizes, completing the first circuit for buzzer B3 fromground, armature 240 and its front contact, conductor I32, armaturel I9 and its resting contact, armature I34 and its front contact, interrupter springs and winding of the units of minutes buzzer B3, to battery. Buzzer B3 transmits'alterna'ting current of a particular frequency over the previously-traced circuit to the subscriber in the same manner as has been described in connection with the hours buzzer BI and the tens of minutes buzzer 32. Upon deenergizing, interrupter relay IIO removes the short circuit from relay 2, at armature H8 and its front contact, and relays 2I0 and 2H lock up in series to grounded conductor I28.

It is obvious now that each time the interrupter I deenergizes and energizes, with stop relay I I2 deenergized and pick-up relay 2I0 energized, a sig- In addition, each time interrupter relay II 0 energizes a circuit is completed to the first counting relay'of the next succeeding pair, and upon deenergizing both relays of the pair lock up in series to grounded conductor I28.

It is assumed now that the interrupter relay I I0 has energized seven times and has deenergized six times, including the energization required to operate pick-up relay 2 I0. Relays2l0 to 22I will be locked to grounded conductor I28 and counting relay 222'will be energized from ground at armature225 and its resting contact over a circuit including armature, H8 and its front contact. During this time the subscriber will have received six distinct signals from the units of Counting relay 222, upon. energizing, closes a testing circuit at armature 246 and its front contactfrom stop relay II2 to the sixth bank contact of the register; The absence of ground on this contact prevents stop relay II2 from operating at this time. At armature 239 and its front contact counting relay 222 prepares a locking circuit for itself in series with counting relay 223. k

Interrupter relay H0, upon deenergizing a seventh time, again closes a circuit for the units of minutes buzzer B3 at armature H9 and its resting contact, starting the transmission of the seventh signal to the subscriber. At armature .I I6 and its front contact, interrupter relay I I0 opens the original energizing circuit for counting relay 222, and at the same time removes the short circuit from the winding of counting relay 223. Counting relays 222 and 223 then look up in series to grounded conductor I26. At armature 225 and its front contact counting relay 223 transfers the impulsing circuit over armature I I8 and its front contact from ground to battery, and at armature 226 and its front contact it prepares a" circuit for successively deenergizing the counting relays in the same order that they were ener gized.-

The eighth time interrupter relay IIO energizes, armature H9 and its resting contact opens the circuit for the units of minutes buzzer B3,

over conductors 28 and 29. At armature H8 and its front contact interrupter relay II 0 closes a circuit from battery, armature 225 and its front contact, conductor I30, armature H8 and its front contact, armature I38 and its resting contact, conductor I29, armature .226 and its front contact, armatures 259 to 263, inclusive, and their respective front contacts, winding of counting relay 2I3, togrounded conductor I28. Counting relay 2I3 remains energized over this circuit but counting relay 2I2 is short circuited and restores to normal. Upon deenergizing, counting relay 2I2 closes a testing circuit from stop-relay II2,

its front contact interrupter relay H0 opens the circuit for counting relay 2I8. Counting; relay 2 I3 deenergizes and at armature 253 and its front contact opens the testing circuit for the seventh bank contact of the registers. At armature 253 and its resting contact counting relay 2I3-prepares a circuit for short circuiting counting relay 2I8 and for holding counting relay 2I5 energized.

The ninth time interrupter relay I I0 energizes, armature H8 and its resting contact opens the circuit to the units of minutes buzzer B3, termi- ,nating the eighth signal to the subscriber over conductors 28 and 29. At armature I I8 and its front contact interrupter relay H0 closes a circult from battery, armature 225 and its front contact, conductor I30, armature H8 and its front contact, armature I33 and its resting contact, conductor E29,,armature 228 and its front contact, armatures- 259 to 282, inclusive, and their respective front contacts, armature 283 and its resting contact, winding of counting relay 2I5, to grounded conductor I28. Counting relay M5 remains energized over this circuit but counting relay 2I8 is short circuited and restores to normal. Upon deenergizing, counting relay 2I8 closes a testing circuit at armature 288 and its resting contact, from the slow-acting stop relay H2 to the eighth bank contact of the registers. This time a circuit is completed from ground, armature I39 and its front contact, conductor I22, wiper 208 and eighth bank contact of the units of minutes register UR, armature 288 and its resting contact, armature 258 and its front contact,-conductor I21, winding of stop relay H2, to battery.

Stop relay H2 energizes over this circuit and at armature I38 and its front contact closes an obvious locking circuit for itself. At armature I36 and its resting contact stop relay I I2 removes the locking ground from conductor I28, restoring relays 2I0, 2| I, and 2I5 to 223, inclusive, to nor- -mal,and at armature I33 and its resting contact opens the impulsing circuit over armature H8 and its front contact. Pick-up relay 2| 0, upon deenergizing, opens the circuit to buzzer B3 at armature 280 and its front contact. Relay 2| I, upon deenergizing, restores the pick-up circuit at armature 288 and its resting contact but without effect at this time, because the pick-up circuit is opened at armatures H5 and H6,- C unting 2,070,878 terminating the seventh signal to the subscriber relay 2I5, upon restoring to normal, opens the original energizing circuit for stop relay LI I2, at armature 258 and its front contact. The removal of the locking ground from conductor I28, at armature I86 and its resting contact, opens the circuit of the normally energized relay I I3 and it deenergizes. At armature MI and its front contact relay I I3 removes the short circuit from the lower winding of the two-step sequence relay I01. Sequence relay I01 then locks itself in its second step from ground, resting contacts con-.

trolled by armature I88, contact A of relay I01, both windings of relay I01 in series to battery.

' Relay II 3 also opens the locking circuit for stop relay H2 at armature I31 and its front contact.

. Stop relay H2 does not deenergize, however, be-

cause it is now locked to ground at armature I85 and its front contact. Stop relay H2 remains lockedyto ground at armature I85 and its front contact until the time signalingdevice is in position to start transmitting another complete time signal.

" Sequence relay I01, upon energizing in its second step, pulls armature I86 in contact with weighted spring I08. Weighted spring I08 vibrates and when it comes to rest closes an obvious circuit to slow-acting relay I08. The weighted spring I08 is provided to give an additional delay between the, transmission of each complete time signal by the signaling device. I

At armature I88 and its front contact relay I08 closes-[the first cu't-oif circuit for the differentially wound relay 8 of the time trunk circuit TTC from ground, armature I88 and its front contact, armature I 81 and its front contact, conductor 33, armature 88and its front contact, armature I 8 and its resting contact, lower winding of differential relay 8, to battery. Upon energizing, differentially wound relay 8 prepares a circuit for its upper windingat armature 81, and a armature I9 and its front contact it closes another point in the locking circuit for pick-up relay I I. At the resting contacts controlled by armature I88 relay I08 opens the locking circuit for sequence relays I05 to I01, inclusive.

Sequence relays I05 to I01, inclusive, deener gize. At armatures I85 and I86 sequence relay I01 opens the circuits for relays H2 and I08, respectively. Stop relay H2 subsequently deenergizes and places ground on conductor I28, operating relay H3. Upon energizing, relay H3 closes a circuit for energizing sequence relay I05 in it locks up in series with relay 9 from battery,

lower winding of relay 8, armature 20 and its front contact, lower winding of relay 9, armature 8| and its front contact, to ground. Relay 9 also energizes over this circuit and closes an obvious locking circuit for itself over its upper winding and armature 88 and its front contact. At armature I8 and its resting contact relay 9 .opens a point in the locking circuit for pick-up relay II, and at armature I8 and its resting contact it opens a point in the initial energizing the locking circuit for pick-up relay II.

deenergizing, pick-up relay II disconnects the circuit'for differential relay 8. At armatures I3 and I1 and their respective front contacts, relay 8 prepares a busy tone circuit for the subscriber, and at armature I5 and its front contact it prepares a circuit for the upper winding of differential relay 8.

The subscriber has now heard one tone signal from the hours buzzer BI, three tone signalsirom the tens of minutes buzzer B2, and eight tone signals from the units of minutes buzzer B3, indicating that the time is 1:38 o'clock. The time signaling device is now in position to transmit the same signal to the subscriber again and the time trunk circuit TTC is in position to dis-- connect the subscriber from the tone signaling conductors and connecting him to the busy tone conductors after he has received the same time signal again.

It should be noted that the pick-up circuit over conductor 32 is closed atthis time and will connect any subscriber that has seized a time trunk circuit to the time signaling conductors 28-29. The time trunk circuits cannot be connected to the time signaling device after the transmission of a time signal has started because the pick-up circuit over conductor 32 will be opened.

The operation of the time signaling device in transmitting the second time signal to the subscriber connected to time trunk circuit TTC is the same as has been hereinbefore described.

However, after the last signal has been trans- 'mitted, relay I04 is operated again after the vibrating contact I08 comes to rest, and it opens the locking circuit for transfer-relays I05 to I01, inclusive, at the resting contacts controlled by armature I44. At armature I48 and its front contact relay I04 closes the second cut-off circuit from ground, armature I48 and its front contact, conductor 34, armatures I5 and 41 and their respective front contacts, upper winding of differential relay 8, to battery. Differential relay 8 deenergizes and at armature and its front contact opens the initial energizing circuit for the lower winding of relay 9, but relay 8 does not deenergize as it is locked 'up over its upper winding to ground at armature 4I. At armature I9 and its front contact differential relay 8 opens Upon subscriber from the signaling conductors 28 and 28 at armatures 43 and 43 and their respective front contacts, and at armatures 43 and 43 and their respective resting contacts it connects the subscriber to the busy signaling conductors 28 and 21. The circuit for the busy signal to the subscriber is as follows: secondary winding of transformer 2| whose primary winding is connected to theusual busying machine. conductors 23 and 21, armatures I3 and I1 and their respective front contacts, armatures 38 and 42 and their respectivefront contacts, armatures 43 and 43 and their respective resting contacts, condensers I2 and I3, conductors 5 and 3, to the subscriber's line.

Ordinarily the subscriber will hang up his receiver after he has heard the complete time signal the first time. If he is uncertain as to what time was transmitted he may listen to the next complete time signal. However, it is undesirable to permit the subscribers to listen to the time signals indefinitely. Therefore. the equipment is arranged to connect him to the busy signaling conductors after he has heard the second complete time signal. In this way the trunks to the signaling device are not tied up any longer than necessary. By hanging up his receiver the subscriber opens the loop circuit over which line relay I0 is energized. Upon deenergizing, line relay I8 removes the holding ground from relay 9 and the preceding switches at armature 4I and its front contact, and at armatures 38 and 42 and their respective front contacts it disconnects the busy signaling conductors 23 and 2! from the subscribers line. The preceding switches restore to normal in the usual manner.

When relay 9 deenergizes the time trunk circuit TTC is in position to be seized again by any subscriber.

The resistances 2t, 25, and 40, connected to the secondary windings of transformers 2I, 22, and 23, respectively, reduce the volume of the tone signals transmitted over conductors 28 to 8!, inclusive, so they are not unpleasantly loud when one subscriber is listening and at the same time they place an artificial load on these conductors. Therefore, there will be very little change in the volume of tone regardless of the number of subscribers simultaneously connected to the time signaling device.

The condensers I2 and I3 shown in the time trunk circuit TTC and the condensers 3I2 and 3I3 shown in Fig. 3 are of low capacity, to prevent subscribers connected to the multipled conductors 28 and 29 from talking to each other. The condensers also limit the amount of current flow over any onesubscribers line. thereby maintaining the volume of the tone signals over long lines practically the same as over short lines.

An alternative arrangement for generating the tone signals tobe transmitted over conductors 28.and 29 is to employ gongs or chimes. similar to those used in time clocks, in combination with magnets for striking the time. When this method of tone generating is used, it may be necessary to use a vacuum tube amplifier in conjunction Y with a transmitter placed in proximity to the gangs or chimes, by means of which the tones are picked up and amplified before being transmitted to the subscriber over conductors 28 and 28.

Automatic subscriber seizing time trunk circuit after. the time signaling device has started transmitting a time signal It is assumed that the time signaling device has started transmitting a time signal over conductors 28 and 29 and that a subscriber seizes the time trunk circuit TTC after the first two digits of a signal have been transmitted overthe hours and tens of minutes buzzers BI and B2, respectively.

Line relay I0, of the time trunk circuit TTC, energizes over the subscribers loop circuit as before. This time, however, pick-up relay II does not operate because the pick-up circuit over conductor 32 is opened at one or more of the following armatures: armature 224 which opens the pick-up circuit while each digit is being transmitted, armature II3 which opens the pick-up circuit between the transmission of each digit, and armature I I5 which holds the pick-up circuit open from the time the first digit is completed until the signaling device restores to normal after the complete time signal is transmitted.

With line relay I0 energized and with pick-up relay II deenergized, because a circuit is not completed over the pick-up'conductor 92, a tick tone signal similar to the ticking of a clock is connected to the line to indicate to the subscriber that a connection has been established to the time signaling device.

Interrupter relays I I and I II are intermittently operating, as has been hereinbefore described,

and each time relay I I I operates a circuit is closed at armature I49 and its front contact from battery, resistance II4, armature I49 and its front contact, primary winding of transformer 22, to ground. The intermittent interruption of the current in the primary winding induces a tick tone in the secondary winding of the transformer 22, which is transmitted to the subscriber over conductors 30 and 3I, armatures I6 and I1 and their respective resting contacts, armatures 38 and 42 and their respective front contacts, armatures 43 and 46 and their respective resting contacts, condensers I2 and I 3, conductors and 1, and the subscriber's loop. After the time signal being transmitted by the signaling device is completed, a pick-up circuit is closed over conductor 32, and pick-up relay II energizes as before, disconnecting the subscriber's line from the tick tone conductors 30 and 3I and connecting the line to the time signaling conductors 28 and 29.

Transmission of special signal when wipers of tens or units of minutes registers are associated with tenth bank contacts of the registers It will be assumed that the wipers of the tens of minutes register TR and the units of minutes register UR are associated with the tenth bank contacts, and that the signaling device has transmitted the time registered on the hours register HR, as has been hereinbefore described. Sequence relay I05, upon energizing in its second step after the hour signal has been transmitted, closes a circuit from ground, armature I39 and its resting contact, armature I40 and-its front contact, conductor I23, wiper 205 and tenth bank contact of the tens of minutes register TR, conductor I25, winding of relay I09, to battery. Relay I09 energizes and at armature I50 and its front. contact places ground on conductor I26, grounding the fourth bank contact of the register. lay I09 prepares a circuit for buzzer B3, shunting out the intermittently operated armature 9 of interrupter relay I I0. When pick-up relay 2I0 is energized by the operation of interrupter relay II 0 it immediately closes a circuit to buzzer B2, at armature 240 and its front contact starting the transmission of the tens of minutes signal over signaling conductors 28 and 29. This circuit remains closed until the counting relays have tested the first four-bank contacts of the register. Interrupter relay IIO operates the counting relays as has been described, testing each bank contact of the registers in turn. The fifth time interrupter relay IIO energizes a circuit is closed at armature H8 and its front contact, energizing counting relay 2I8. Upon energizing, counting relay 2I8 closes a. circuit to stop relay I I2 from ground, armature I50 and its front contact, armature 2 and its front contact, armature 256 and its-resting contact, conductor I21, winding of stop relay I I2, to battery. Stop relay I I2 energizes, removing the holding ground from conductor I20 at armature I36 and its resting contact, deenergizing'rela'ys 2I0 to 2", inclusive, and at armature I33 and its resting contact it opens the circuit of counting relay 2| 8; Relays 2l0 to 2ll, inclusive, deenergize. The falling back of pick-up relay 2I0 opens the circuit to buzzer B2 at armature 240 and its front contact, terminating the tone signal being transmitted over At armature I5I and its front contact reconductors 20 and 29. Relay II3 deenergizes as before, removing the short circuit from the lower winding to the sequence relay I06. Sequence relay I06 locks up in its second step, transferring the marking ground at armature I39 from conductor I23 and wiper 205 of the tens of minutes register TR, to conductor I 22 and wiper 208 of the units of minutes register UR. The removal of ground from wiper 205 opens the energizing circuit of relay I09 and it deenergiz'es.

The operation of the equipment, with wipers 201 and 208 of the units of minutes register UR associated withthe tenth bank contacts, is the same as described above. However, the tone signal is in this case transmitted by the units of minutes buzzer B3.

Relay I09 and armature I5I and its front contact are provided to shunt out the intermittently operated armature II9 of the interrupter relay H0 and armature I50 and its front contact is provided to ground the fourth bank contact of the tens and units of minutes registers TR and UR, respectively. With this arrangement, instead of transmitting ten short signals or just providing a silent period to indicate zero, a long continuous signal is transmitted equivalent to the transmission of approximately four short signals.

The time transmitted with the registers in the position described above is 1:00 oclock.

Setting of the registers by the master clock The setting of the hours register HR, the tens of minutes register TR, and the units of minutes register UR, by momentary impulses from the master clock, will now be described.

The master clock, shown to the right of transformer 23, is connected to the time signaling device over conductor 31 and is arranged to momentarily close Its contacts 35 at the end of every minute. Every time the clock operates its contacts 35, a momentary circuit is closed from ground, contacts 35 of the clock, conductor 31, upper winding of relay IOI, to battery. It will be assumed that relay I 01 is energized, preventing relay IOI from being locked to ground at armature I52 and its resting contact. Relay IOI energizes and closes an obvious circuit for relay I02, the functions of which will be described later. It also closes a circuit from ground, armature I54 and its front contact, conductor I2-I, winding of magnet 209 of the units of minutes register UR, to battery. Magnet 209 energizes,.but is arranged to advance its wipers 201 and 208 when it is deenergized. Relay IOI being momentarily energized, subsequently deenergizes and opens the circuit for magnet 209. Magnet 209 deenergizes, advancing its wipers 201 and 208 to the next bank contact. Each minute magnet 209 is again momentarily energized over the above circuit, advancing its wipers 201 and 208 to the next bank contact.

Every time wipers 201 and 208 are associated with the ninth bank contacts, the next time relay IN is momentarily energized a momentary circuit is completed to magnet 206 of the tens of minutes register TR, as well as magnet 209 of the units of minutes register UR, from ground, armature I54 and its front contact, conductor I2I, wiper 201 and the ninth bank contact of the units of minutes register UR, winding of magnet 206, to battery. This time wipers 204 and 205 of the tens of minutes register TR and wipers 201 and 208 of the units of minutes register UR are advanced to the next bank contacts.

When wipers 204 and 205 are associated with aomsvs the fifth bank contact oi'the tens of minutes register TR, and wipers 201 and 200 are associated with the ninth bank contacts of the units 01 minutes register UR,.the next time relay M is momentarily energized by the master clock a momentary circuit is completed to magnet 203 of the hours register HR as well as to magnets 206 and 209 of the tens and units of minutes registers TR and UR, respectively, over conductor I2I, wiper 201, and ninth bank contact of the units of minutes register UR, wiper 204. and fltth bank contact oi the tens of minutes register TR, winding of magnet 203, to battery. This time all the Wipers of the registers are advanced to the next bank contact. Therefore, each minute the wipers of the units of minutes register UR are advanced one step, every ten minutes the wipers or the tens of minutes register TR are advanced one step,

and each hour the wipers of the hours register HR are advanced one step. In this manner the exact time of clay is always registered by the time signaling device.

The bank contacts of the registers that are not being used are grounded through the interrupter.

contacts of the respective magnets. Each time a wiper is advanced to one of the grounded contaste of the bank it closes a circuit to its respective magnet. The magnet, upon energizing, opens the energizing circuit at its interrupter contact, advancing the wipers to the next bank contact.

Change in time while the subscriber is receiving the first complete time signal I I0I will be deenergized and atarmat'ure I52 and its resting contact an obvious locking circuit is closed for the lower winding of relay IOI. At armature I54 and its front contact relay IOI closes an obvious circuit for relay I 02 and at the same time it closes'a circuit over conductor I2I, energizing magnet 200 of the units of minutes register UR. Upon energizing, relay I02 opens the locking circuit of impulse absorbing relay I03 at armature I55 and its resting contact, and at armature I55 and its front contact it closes an additional locking circuit for sequence relays I05 to I01, inclusive. Upon deenergizing, the impulse absorbing relay I03 disconnects the circuit for differential relay 0 at armature I41 and its front contact, and at the resting contact it prepares a circuit for its lower winding.

The impulse absorbing relay I03 is deenergized at this time to prevent a subscriber that is receiving a time signal the first time from being disconnected after he has received the second time signal. For example, a subscriber is connected to the time signaling device and is receiving the time, which is 1:38 oclock. Now then, if the time is changed by the operation of relay MI by the clock, the impulse absorbing relay I03 is deenergized and when the transmissionof time signal 1:38 is completed and relay I04 is energized, the circuit usually'closed over conductor 33 to operate the differential relay I00 is now closedto again energize the impulse It will be assumed that the time signaling device has now transmitted a complete time signal and that sequence relays I05 to I01, inclusive, have been locked up to ground at armature I55 and its resting contact and to ground at the resting contacts controlled by armature I44. Upon energizing, sequence relay I01 opens the holding circuit for relay I,0I at armature I52 and its resting contact. Upon deenergizing, relay IOI opens the circuit of relay I02 and magnet 200; Magnet 209 deenergizes and advances its wipers 201 and 208 to the next bank contact. Relay I02 being slow to release remains operated a short time after its energizing circuit is opened. Relay IOI, upon deenersizing. closes a circuit from ground, armature I51 and its resting contact, armature I58 and its front contact, interrupter contacts and winding of buzzer B4, to battery.

Buzzer B4 vibrates and transmits a tone signal over conductors 28 and 20 in thesame manner as described in connection with buzzers BI to B3, inclusive, indicating to the subscriber that the time has changed and that the next signalto be transmitted will be the new time.

7 front contact it closes a circuit for the lower winding of impulse absorbing relay I03. Im-

pulse absorbing relay I03 operates in its first step closing contacts A only. Relay I04 subsequently deenergizes as has been hereinbefore described. Upon deenergizing, relay I04 opens the circuit for the lower winding of impulse absorbing relay I 03 and at the same time removes the short circuit from the upper winding. Impulse absorbing relay I03 immediately locks up in its second step from ground, armature I55 and its resting contacts, contact A and both windings oi impulse absorbing relay I03 in series, to battery. The equipment is now in position to transmit the new time signal.

. The-time signaling device can be arranged to transmit the special tone from buzzer B4, to indicate a. change in time, exactly at the beginning or each minute. This can be done by arranging contacts 35 of the master clock to close about eight or ten seconds before the new minute is to begin and toopen them exactly on the minute. By closing the circuit to relay IOI, over contacts 35 of the master clock, about eight or ten. seconds before the new-minute is to begin, the signals being transmitted over conductors 28 and 29 will have time to be completed but another signal cannot be started after it is completed until relay ml is released by the opening of contacts 35 of'the master clock. The release of relay IOI closes a circuit to buzzer B4 and the special tone signal is heard by the subscriber, indicating that the time is changed. The wipers of the registers will be advanced to the next bank contact and the signaling device will start the transmission of the new signal.

Simplified time trunk circuit When the time trunk circuit shown in Fig. 3 is used, only the signaling conductors-28 and 29 Relay Wheni a subscriber dials and a selector associates its wiperswith bank contacts 802 to 863,

inclusive, line relay Sill immediately energizes.

over the subscriber's loop circuit in the same manner as line relay ill of time trunk circuit TI'C. Upon energizing, line relay 36! connects the subscriber to the time signaling conductors,

associated front contacts, and at armature 3M and its front contact it grounds the release trunk of the preceding switches, holding them operated in the well-known manner.

The subscriber is immediately connected to the time signaling conductors and is not disconnected until he hangs up his receiver.

.What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an impulse sender, a plurality of counting relays, a plurality of registers for registering the time of day, and means controlled by said impulse sender, said counting relays and said registers for continuously transmitting the time registered on said registers.

2. In combination, a plurality of transfer relays, a plurality of time registers, means controlled by said transfer relays for making the registers effective in proper sequence, an impulse sender, a plurality of counting relays, and means controlled by said impulse sender and said counting relays for operating said transfer relays in proper sequence.

3. In combination, a relay operated by momentary impulses from a clock, a plurality of registers, means controlled by the operation of said relay for operating said registers to register the time of day, means for transmitting signals indicative of the registration, means for preventing said relay from operating said registers while registers for stopping the counting operations at variable points, and means for providing a predetermined long pause between the transmission of complete time signals and a short pause between the transmission of component parts of each complete signal.

5. In a time signaling system, a plurality of time registers, a plurality of signaling devices for generating tone signals differing in pitch, and means for operating said devices in accordance with the setting of said registers, respectively.

6. In a time signaling device, means for transmitting tone signals of a predetermined frequency indicative of the hour, means for transmitting tone signals of ahigher predetermined frequency indicative of the group of minutes, and means for transmitting tone signals of a still higher predetermined frequency indicative of the minute within the group.

7. In a time signaling system, means for transmitting the time of day, a trunk multiple common to a plurality of subscribers, means for connecting said subscribers to said common trunk multiple for receiving the time of day transmitted by said first mentioned means, and means controlled from said first means for disconnecting each subscriber from said common trunk multiple after receiving a predetermined number of time signals.

8. In combination, a source of information arranged to automatically transmit information at intervals, a. plurality of subscribers"lines, a plurality of subscribers connecting links, a. trunk multiple common to said connecting links, and means responsive to the seizure of a connecting link by any of said subscribers for connecting the seized link to said trunk multiple for receiving.

said information.

9. In combination. a source of information arranged to automatically transmit information at intervals, a plurality of subscribers lines, a plurality of subscribers connecting links, a trunk multiple common to said connecting links, means responsive to the seizure of a connecting link by any of said subscribers for connecting the seized link to said trunk multiple for receiving said information, and means for disconnecting each subscriber from said trunk multiple after said information has been received a predetermined number of times.

10. In a time signaling system, a time signaling device, a trunk circuit for connecting subscribers to said time signaling device, and means responsive to the transmission of the same complete time signal a second time for disconnecting the subscriber from said time signaling device.

11. In a time signaling system, a time signaling device, a trunk circuit for connecting subscribers to said time signaling device, means responsive to the transmission of a time signal to a subscriber a second time for disconnecting the subscriber from said time signaling device, and means responsive to a change in the time signal before the same has been twice transmitted to such subscriber for preventing said subscriber from being disconnected until the complete new time signal has been transmitted twice.

12. In combination, a plurality of trunk 'circuits accessible to telephone subscribers, a plurality of conductors common to said trunk circuits, a time signaling device individual to said plurality of conductors, and means responsive to the seizure of a. trunk circuit by a subscriber for connecting said trunk circuit to certain of said conductors.

13. In combination,- a plurality of trunk circuits accessible to telephone subscribers, a plurality of conductors common to said trunk circuits, a time signaling device individual to said plurality of conductors, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit by a subscriber for connecting said trunk circuit to certain of said concluctors, and means for connecting said trunk circuit to certain other conductors when said signaling device is in a predetermined position.

14. In a time signaling system, a plurality of registers for registering the time of day, means for setting said registers, a signaling device arranged to repeatedly transmit intermittent tone signals corresponding in number to the setting of each of said registers, and means for providing a uniform short pause after the transmission of the signals corresponding to the registration on each of said registers except the last and a predetermined long pause aiter the transmission of signals corresponding to the registration on the last of said registers.

15. In combination, a time signaling device accessible to subscribers over a plurality of trunk circuits, means in said device for transmitting tone signals of predetermined frequencies and at predetermined intervals indicative of the time of day, and means independent of subscriber control for automatically disconnecting each subscriber ;after a predetermined number of complete t e signals have been heard.

l6. a time signaling system, a plurality of registers for registering the time of day, a plurality of counting relays, means including said counting relays, for successively making tests of each of said registers, and means responsive to the setting of each of said registers for stopping the operation of said counting relays at different predetermined intervals in accordance with the time registered at, any given instant.

17. In a timesignaling device, -a plurality of registers, a plurality of counting relays, a plurality of conductors extending from each of said registers to said counting relays, means for successively marking conductors from said registers to indicate the time registered thereon, means for operating said counting relays a plurality of times until each marked conductor has been encountered, and means for restoring the operated counting relays after each of said marked conductors is encountered.

18. In a time signaling device, a register, a plurality of countingrelays, a plurality of conductors extending from said register to said counting relays, means for marking one of the conductors from said register to indicate the time registered thereon, means for'operating each of said counting relays in turn until the marked conductor is encountered, and means responsive when all of said counting relays have been operated without encountering said marked conductor for releasing each of said counting relays in'turn until the marked conductor is encountered.

19. In combination. a plurality of trunk-circuits accessible to telephone subscribers, a plurality of conductors common to said trunk circuits, a time signaling device individual to said plurality of conductors, means responsive to the seizure of a trunk circuit for transmitting a ticktock tone signal over certain of said common conductors to the connected subscriber to indicate that the time signaling device has been seized, and means for disconnecting said tick-took signals and connecting said trunk circuit to certain other of said conductors when said time signaling device is in a position to transmit the time of day.

20. In a time signaling system, means for transmittlng a tick-took signal indicative of the ticking of a clock and for subsequently transmitting the time of day, a trunk multiple common to a plurality of subscribers, means for connecting said subscribers to said common trunk multiple for receiving said tick-took signals, and means for subeequentlydisconnecting said tick-took signal so the subscribers can receive the time of day.

21. In a time signaling system, a trunk circuit accessible to telephone subscribers, means for extending a connection from a calling subscriber's line to said trunk circuit, a time signaling device, means in said device for transmitting a tick-tock tone signal, signals indicative of the time of day, and a disconnect signal, and means including said trunk circuit for connecting said tick-tock signal to said subscribers line, for disconnecting said tick-took tone signal and connecting said time signal, and for disconnecting said time signals and connecting said disconnect signal.

22. In a time signaling system, a plurality of devices for generating tone signals diflering in frequency, a like plurality of clock-controlled registers for registering the time of day. eans for operating the respective devices in accordance with the setting of the respective registers to transmit tone signals indicative of the time registered, a special device for generating atone signal of a higher frequency than the abovementioned devices, and means responsive to a change in the time registered on said registers for operating said special device to transmit a tone signal indicative of a change in the time.

' 23. In a telephone system, a time signaling device comprising clock-controlled registers. for registering the time of day, a plurality of tone generators, a counting mechanism, an impulse sender for simultaneously transmitting impulses to said counting mechanism and said tone gen-' erators, a transfer device for rendering each of the registers effective in turn and for simultaneously rendering the associated tone generator eftrunk circuit accessible to telephone subscribers,

and means in said trunk circuit for connecting controlling said counting mechanismto count the number of impulses transmitted to the effective fective to the impulses transmitted thereto, a

tone generator, and means for preventing further impulses from being transmitted to the effective tone generator when the number of impulses transmitted correspond to the setting of the effective register.

25. In a time signaling system, a register having a plurality of positions corresponding, respectively, to successive intervals of time, means responsive to the lapse of each interval for advancing said register to its next position, timesignaling means, time-controlled means for periodically operating said signaling'means and for simultaneously searching for the instant position of said register, and means for stopping the operation of the signaling means each time the instant position is located.

26. In a telephone system, a signaling circuit, a plurality of signal-current generators, each for generating current of a particular frequency, means for connecting said generators to said circuit toproduce time signals therein in code, timecontrolled means for chan ng the code of successive elapsed time intervals, whereby any code signal will be indicative of the time at that instant, and means for connecting subscribers lines to-said circuitto enable the subscribers to hear said code signals.

2'7. In a telephone system, a signal-current generator forgenerating current of a frequency indicative of a particular unit of time, another gen erator for generating current of a frequency indicative of a different unit of time, asignaling circuit, means for associating said generators with said circuit to produce coded time signaling currents therein, time-controlled means for altering the code with the lapse of each time unit, and means-for connecting subscribers lines to said circuit to enable the subscribers to receive the of day, means for transmittingtone signals instorage device at the central station in which a mitting the time of day over said circuit a number of times for each registration, a tone generator automatically operated each time the registration is changed to transmit a tone signal over said circuit to indicate that the first time signal transmitted thereafter will be the exact time, and means for connecting subscribers lines to said circuit to receive said signals.--

30. In a time signaling system, means operated periodically for transmitting tone signals, means operated at longer periods for changing the time signals in accordance with the change in time, and means for transmitting a special signal accompanying each time signal the first time such signal is transmitted.

31. In a system for transmitting information from a central station to outlying stations, a

variable digit indicative of a variable characteristic of an item of information is stored, said device including contact means resettable to change the value of the stored digit, a continuously operating impulse sender associated with said storage device, a signal transmitter controlled by said sender, said transmitter including means for sending to any associated outlying station a series of impulses of like character which are representative of the stored digit, and means responsiv to asignal sent from an outlying station desiring information for associating such station with said transmitter.

32. In a system for transmitting information from acentral station to subscribers stations, a plurality of storage devices at the central station on which digits representing certain information are stored, a sender operating periodically to send impulses in accordance with the digits stored in said storage devices, transmitting means responsive to such impulses to generate a series of signals representative of said digits, a plurality aoraevs of link circuits accessible to subscribers responsive to calls for information, means in each link circult for connecting the same to said transmitting means to receive the digit signals generated thereby, and means for preventing a link circuit taken for use while a series of signals is being generated from being connected to said transmitting means until the series is finished.

33. A system for transmitting information from a central station to outlying stations, said system comprising information storing means at the central station which is resettable to change the information stored therein from time to time, a link circuit at the central station accesible to the outlying stations through automatic selecting mechanism, transmitting means at the central station for sending out information by means of electrical signals over said link circuit to any outlying station connected thereto, controlling apparatus, circuit connections over which said controlling apparatus operates said transmitting means periodically in accordance with the setting of said storing means, and means for preventing the stored information from being changed while said controlling apparatus is operating said transmitting means.

34. In a signaling system, registering apparatus, means for periodically changing the setting of said apparatus to maintain it set in accordance with the time of day, means controlled in accordance with the setting of said registering apparatus at a given time for transmitting a group of time signals, and means eifective upon each change in the setting of said registering apparatus for transmitting a distinctive signal indicative of the fact that the next group of time signals transmitted will be different from the preceding group.

35. In a time signaling system, a register having a plurality of positions, time controlled means for periodically advancing said register from one position to the next, means for testing said positions successively to determine the position of the register, means for starting the testing operation and for continuing it until the instant position of the register is determined, and means eifective while successive positions are being tested for transmitting time signals.

JOHN I. BELLAMY. RODNEY G. RICHARDSON. 

